Welcome to Embrace Shabbat. The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat 117b teaches: כָּל הַמְעַנֵּג אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת נוֹתְנִין לוֹ נַחֲלָה בְּלִי מְצָרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אָז תִּתְעַנַּג עַל ה׳ … וְהַאֲכַלְתִּיךָ נַחֲלַת יַעֲקֹב אָבִיךָ וְגו ֹ׳ Anyone who delights in Shabbat gets a boundless inheritance, as it says, “when you rejoice in Hashem … then I will give you the potion of the inheritance of Yaakov your father.” The Gemara continues to explain that the reward for delighting in Shabbat is specifically the portion of Yaakov, and not that of Avraham and Yitzchak, because the latter avot received brachot that gave a boundary to the land. Rather, a person who observes Shabbat merits to receive the blessing of Yaakov- וּפָרַצְתָּ יָמָּה וָקֵדְמָה וְצָפוֹנָה וָנֶגְבָּה - and you will spread out in all four directions. The Maharsha explains this reward to be measure for measure: when a person spends money on Shabbat without any concern for boundaries, he receives a reward without boundaries. Sefer Anaf Yosef on the Ein Yaakov quotes that there are two kinds of working people. The first invests in his parnassah excessively; he believes that he alone is in charge of his income. For such a person, Shabbat is not an oneg, but a waste of time because a person cannot make any money on that day. This man’s parnassah is bound by his ability to invest hishtadlut - his income reflects the hishtadlut he invests and nothing more. A second type of person works during the week to fulfil the command of Hashem. However, he knows that the efforts that he invests has no bearing on the income that he receives- it is just a fulfillment of Hashem’s command. Such a person is מענג את השבת , he enjoys Shabbat and it serves as a rest for him, as he never wanted to work in the first place! Because this person has bitachon and relies on Hashem, Who has no bounds, his parnassah consequently has no bounds, as well. The mitzvah of Shabbat is not just to observe the day, but to feel a sense of relaxation, knowing that parnassah comes from Hashem. When a person is able to take the day off and forget about their work, it shows that they are relying on Hashem. In short, one who relies on his own handiwork is limited to his own handiwork, as the Chovot HaLevavot teaches in Shaar Bitachon. For example, if one places their trust in a lawyer who has a 60% success rate, that becomes the person’s probability for success, as they are bound by laws and confines of nature. However, one who relies on HaKadosh Baruch Hu has no bounds- his success is unlimited. The litmus test to a person’s bitachon is their state on Shabbat. Do they feel the need to rush back to the office to finish their work or be the last to leave on Friday afternoon, or do they know that their efforts are not what bear fruit, but a basic level of hishtadlut. This is the middah k’neged middah : for one who is מענג את השבת , his boundaries are limitless. Have a Shabbat Shalom.